Between 14 and 24 July, the National Park Service reported more than 3000 lightning strikes and so far this year, fire crews have had to fight more than 30,000 minor fires across several states, in an area of over 4000 square kilometres.

Californian firefighters are highly experienced, but this firestorm is like nothing they have seen. Ken Pimlott, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told The Washington Post, “The vegetation is so dry, it’s generating so much heat that it’s creating extraordinary conditions.”